Longowal

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Longowal Village is unique in the history of East Punjab, a state within Sovereign India. This village has a special status for a number of reasons.

[edit] Overview

Longowal village was first brought into existence by Baba Alla Singh, in whose name a very old Gurudwara is still running in its original place, now almost at the centre of the village.

This village has been the largest populated village within Punjab for half a century and has been run by a municipality since the 1950's. There used to be a Granthi named Harchand Singh from a neighbouring village who used to organise Kirtans in the area. He became very popular by the name Sant Harchand Singh Longowal because he moved to Longowal in early 1940's and became president ("Pardhan") of most of the Gurudwars of Logowal. He associted with another well known and outgoing Hindu business man Lala Bantram of "Balle ka lana - family" being the old inhabitants of this village, and these two had a keen interest in the development of Longowal village in 1950's. They liaised with the government to have the village connected by road, get a health centre established, get a high school sanctioned and a new community school building established with efforts from all villagers. Postal services were also improved.

Following all the improvements mentioned above, the village came into prominence and so did Sant Harchand Singh Longowal who then became actively involved in the politics of Punjab and mediated in the extremist activities of the 1980's. He was assassinated by one of these extremeist groups. Sant Harchand Singh had earned a lot of respect and good will from his fellow villagers.

Village Longowal earned repute at the national level when the central government set up The Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology.